p2 Contents Sept 11 9/9/09 21:34 Page 2
Bed banks should
act together to ease
news
pressure on agents
ABTA members could be forgiven for thinking they’re
caught between the devil and the deep blue sea
when they turn up at Park Street for the association’s
general meeting next month.
Abta’s board wants them to approve a change
C
to their articles of association that will make any
member bed banks responsible for money paid by
customers to agents selling their accommodation.
tainment Rights PL
this week
If members vote with the proposal, they will in all
likelihood find bed banks stop allowing them to hold
irmin/Enter
on to customers’ monies for so long before passing
it on – hitting agents’ cash balances already under
pressure from rock-bottom interest rates.
If they turn it down, they face no prospect of an
end to credit card providers demanding ever-larger
securities in return for providing card facilities.
Basil Brush® © 2009 I Owen/P F
Abta believes the proposal will help agents and
consumers by clarifying the issues thrown up in the
Ocean Village is top of the fox
wake of the Freedom Direct collapse. Basil Brush, pictured here with captain Charlie Carr, has joined Ocean Village
Initial reactions to Abta’s proposals this week were for selected Western Med itineraries where he will perform his first live shows
that it probably would be good for consumers, but at sea. The line is also showcasing its 2009-10 winter Caribbean programme
there were more doubts over whether it would be and 2010 summer Mediterranean itineraries in TV adverts starting this weekend.
good for the association and its members.
If it goes through and member agents deal only Abta. Travel Gives Back.
with Abta bed banks they will find themselves having Bed banks face cash call p4 Virgin aid for Uganda p10
to pass on money much quicker, possibly as soon as Bed banks have warned they could Virgin Atlantic has raised £1,300
they receive it from the customer. demand agents pass on customers’ to support orphans in Uganda –
Non-Abta bed banks may decide to continue money as soon as it is paid if Abta despite having cash stolen
offering longer payment terms to encourage agents members vote for rule change
to use them – there’s nothing to stop Abta agents Abta 2009.
doing that, and if they do, Abta bed banks may Flights. Masterclass previews p12
review their membership. If they leave, it makes Trade raps flights ‘cap’ p5 Staff motivation and recession
Abta’s well-intentioned move look irrelevant. Travel industry leaders have survival tips are among topics of
The best outcome from Abta’s branded government calls for a masterclass sessions in Barcelona
proposals might be if it encourages curb on flying as “not credible”
the bed bank industry as a whole City.
to look at the question of how Distribution. Shares boost for Cook p16
long they leave customers’ money Co-op eyes online tie-up p6 Thomas Cook’s expected sale of
with agents. Co-op Travel weighs up deal with Arcandor’s former stake is set to
If the bed banks act together to new comparison site Hotelly boost the operator’s share price
reduce the time, that could calm the
nerves of credit card providers, Retail. Operators.
and ease the pressure OAP makes Tina’s day p7 Lobbying for Libya p24
on agents, without creating Loyalty rewarded: the heartening Cox & Kings hopes that relaxation
a new, uneven playing tale of Cook and Shearings securing of visa rules for Libya will spark a
field between Abta and a 91-year-old man’s £5k booking rise in bookings, despite the furore
non-Abta suppliers. over the Lockerbie bomber’s release
TTG.
Travel Intelligence Report p9 SECTORS.
Chris Gray
TTG has unveiled plans to publish Cruise p20
Deputy News Editor
a market intelligence report, Operators p24
drawing on exclusive data from Business travel p28
leading market analysis companies Letters p32
02 11.09.2009
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